Giacomo Fenocchio Langhe Freisa '21

Five generations of Fenocchios have been producing wine from their holdings in Monforte d’Alba since 1894. Most of the production was sold locally up until 1964, when the ambitious and energetic Giacomo Fenocchio took over the estate. He purchased prime parcels in Cannubi and nearby Castellero, but his focus was always on what he liked to call the heart of the Barolo area, the Bussia. 

In April 1989, Giacomo passed away, leaving his young son Claudio to take over all farming and winemaking duties for the estate. He continued producing his wines with the techniques of the classic style and using organic farming practices. Claudio’s wines show a level of terroir clarity that is only found in the best producers. He now manages 14 hectares of vineyards in Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, and the Bussia of Monforte. 

The Freisa is made from fruit grown on 0.5 hectares in Bussia Soprana, from vines that are about 15 years old. The soils are Helvetian, with clay sediment, blue marl, and tuff. The site is hilly and sits at about 300 meters above sea level. Fermentation and maceration takes place on the skins for 10 days, and indigenous yeasts are used. The wine is aged for six months in stainless steel and six months in Slavonian oak casks prior to bottling.

If you are new to the rare yet historic grape Freisa, think of it as a wild and more rustic cousin of Nebbiolo, a variety to which it is in fact related. Much like Nebbiolo, it has high acidity and tannins, and it produces wines that are refreshing and juicy, with berry aromas and notes of sour cherry, sweet spices, anise, herbs, and earth. Only 165 cases produced annually.